Explosive-engine.



No. 688,245. Patented Dec. 3, l90l. A. HAYES.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

(Application filed Aug. 29, 1901.) 7 (No Model.) 2 Shams-Sheet L ZNVENTOR WIT 5555- BY I THE Nonms verzas'ou, Pnoimumm WASHINGTON a. c.

No. 688,245. Patented Dec. 3, |90l.- A. HAYES.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

(Application filed Aug. 29, 1901.,

2 Sheet (No Model.)

Sheet 2.

o "j T 5 ll]\ 3 cg; INVENTOR' WITNESSES.- a

y w z, BY K Afl0r&

ALBERT HAYES, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN-' ATET Orricn.

MENTS, TO THE NEW LIGHT HEAT & POWER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF UTAH.

EXPLOSlVE-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 688,245, dated December 3, 1901.

Application filed August 29, 1901. Serial No. 73,685. (llo model.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT HAYES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake, State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Explosive-Engines, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the figures of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to explosive-engines, and more particularly to that class of explosive-engines in which the explosive mixture or compound is formed directly in the cylinder of the engine.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide means by which after the explosion has taken place the cylinder-of the engine shall be quickly and effectively cleared of the gases of explosion.

A further object of my invention is to provide for the introduction of the substance which forms the basis of the explosive mixture in liquid form and for the effective formation from this liquid within the cylinder in the presence of air under pressure of a y'apor or gas and its mixture with the compressed air to form an explosive mixture.

A further object is to provide means by which a mixture of a heavy hydrocarbon oil and water may be effectively used as the basis for the formation of. agaseous explosive mixture; and a further object is to provide effective means for igniting the explosive mixture formed in the cylinder.

The means by which I effect these several objects are fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through a complete engine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the engine-cylinder, showing the vaporizer and igniter and pump. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of the pump on a plane at right angles to that on which Fig. 2 is taken. Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the vaporizer and igniter in elevation, and Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the piston of the vaporizer and igniter.

In the construction shown in the drawings, 1 is the cylinder of an explosive-engine. The cylinder is surrounded by a water-jacket 2,

having inlet 4 and outlet 3. The inlet and outlet are preferably connected to a tank 5, so as to circulate; but this is not essential. Within the cylinder 1 is a piston 6, preferably a trunk-piston, as shown, and the piston is connected, as shown, by connecting-rod 7 with the crank 8, secured on engine-shaft 9, which is preferably provided with fly-wheel 10. The connecting-rod and crank are inclosed within a substantially air-tight chamber 11, formed in line with the cylinder 1, the piston fitting snugly within the interior of this chamber throughout its forward stroke. Through the wall of this chamber, preferably at its lower side when the cylinder is arranged horizontally, as shown, is formed the exhaustport12, this port being preferably connected by a pipe 13 with a suitable muffler or escapepipe. Nearly opposite the exhaust-port 12, but slightly nearer the rear end of the cylinder 1, is an inlet-port 14, communicating through a passage 15 with the chamber 11. An inlet-port16,which communicates through a passage 17 with the outside air, opens into the chamber 11 at a point slightly farther toward the crank-shaft than the exhaustport 12.

In the operation of the engine when the piston is at the limit of its rearward movement exhaust-port 12 and inlet-port 14 are closed and air-inlet port 16 is open, permitting air to freely enter the chamber ll. As the piston is driven forward bythe explosion it closes air-inlet port 16 and compresses the air' contained within the chamber 11. As the piston moves farther forward it opens inletport 14, permitting the air compressed within the chamber 11 to enter the cylinder to mix with the gases ofexplosion and to supply oxygen for the purpose hereinafter described. This opening of the inlet-port 14 does not take place until the piston has nearly completed its movement and the pressure in the cylinder has fallen below the pressure in the aircompressing chamber, and it will be understood that the charge of oil and water introduced should not be in excess of the amount needed to give the piston the necessary impetus without maintaining a pressure at the point in the stroke at which the inlet-port 14: opens in excess of the pressurein the com- After the inlet-port has been opened and air admitted, as described, the further movement of the piston opens the exhaust-port 12, when the gases of explosion mixed with air, as above described, will be expelled by the further inrush of air from the chamber 11, and the chamber will be filled with substantially pure air.

In order to provide for the opening of the inlet-port 14 in advance of the opening of the exhaust-port 12, the cylinder is preferably cutaway on its rear face at 6-, as shown. On thereturn stroke of the piston the exhaustport 12 is first closed. The piston then closes the inlet-port 14 and finally opens-the air-inlet port 16. The air confined within the cylinder between the rear face of the piston and the end of the cylinder is compressed by the piston as it completes its rearward stroke and forms an elastic body, which aids in again giving a forward movement to the piston.

It will be understood thatin the operation of the engine the movement of the piston takes-place with great rapidity, and the openingand closing of the several ports are effected in quicksuccession.

The'explosive used to operate the engine should be introduced into the cylinder during the rearward movement of the piston after-this rearward movement has so far progressed that the air within the cylinder in rear of the piston has been materially compressed. I prefer to so arrange and time the means by which the explosive is introduced that the introduction takes'place when the piston has completed about five-eighthsof its rearward stroke. The explosive is thus introduced into a body of compressed air.

.WhileI do not limit my invention to the use of any particular explosive, the construction which I have shown is particularly adapted and intended to use as the basis of the ex- 'plosiveamixture of a heavy hydrocarbon-oil,

such as kerosene or even crude oil, with-water,

into steam and the steam decomposed, the oil r vapor or gas and the hydrogen gas formed by the decomposition ofthe steam mixing at once with the 'compressed air in the cylinder to form an explosive mixture, which is instantly ignited, as hereinafter described.

Thedevice by which the oil and water are introduced, the oil vaporized, and the water jacket.

converted into steam and the steam decomposed and the ignition of the explosive mixture effected is shown in detail in Figs. 2and 3 and comprises a force-pump and vaporizer and igniter 21. The pump 20 is preferably arranged parallel with the cylinder and is carried by an upright 22, secured to the outer shell of the water-jacket and having its lower portion centrallybored, the bore 23 communicating with the interior of the water- In the side of this upright and in communication with the bore 23 is preferably arranged the outlet 3 of the water-jacket. Leading from the bore 23 of the upright is a passage 24, preferably provided with a regulating-valve25, through which water may pass to the inlet-port 26 of the pump-cylinder.

The pump-cylinder is also provided with an oil-inlet port 27, and at its rearward end the pump-cylinder has a discharge-port 28. A tube 29, leading from any convenient oil-supply, communicates with the oil-inlet port; A tube 30 leads from the discharge-port 28 to deliver oil and water from the pump to' the vaporizer and igniter 21.

The vaporizer and igniter comprises a tubu lar chamber 31, extending through the outer shell of the water-jacket and through the wall of the engine-cylinder, as shown, and having at its inner end an outlet formed in a plug 32, having a tapered valve-seat there in, in which fits a needle-valve 33. This needle-valve is carried by a guide 34, which is arranged to move longitudinally of the charm ber, and is preferably of a length sufficient to insure the point of the valve being always in the center of the discharge-orifice. The guide 34 does not, however, fit the walls of the chamber so closely as to prevent the passage of oil and water between it and the walls; but to insure free passage of heavy oil I find it desirable to provide the guide 34 with a longitudinal groove 34. This groove is not necessary when kerosene is used. The valverod preferably extends through the guide 34 from end to end and is provided in rear of the guide with a nut 35 for adjusting it. The needle-valve is moved to open or close the discharge-orifice or to regulate the size of the orifice by a cam 36 in the inner end of a key 37, extending through the wall of the cham ber, the cam operating against the upper and lower faces of a recess or transverse slot 38, formed in the side of the guide 34. Any other convenient means for eifecting the movement of the guide may be substituted for the specific means shown.

The needle-valve during theoperation of the engine is normallywit-hdrawn from the valve-seat, so as'to leave the discharge-orifice normally open. By means of the construction juSll'deSCIlbed the size of the orifice may be regulated to regulate the discharge of the oil and Water into the cylinder of the engine.

Above the guide 34, preferably in the passage leading from the pump 20, is arranged a check-valve 39 to prevent back pressure.

The walls of the vaporizer and igniter 21 are of sufficient thickness to have formed therein at a point some distance from its innor end a wide annular recess 40, which may be termed a flame-chamber. Grooves 41, preferably spiral, as shown, leading from this annular recess or flame-chamber to the interior of the engine-cylinder, are also formed in the walls of the vaporizer and igniter.

The piston of the pump 20 is arranged to be intermittently operated from any convenient moving part of the engine. The means shown for this purpose consists of an eccentric 43, carried by the shaft 9, which operates a short lever 44. The upper end of this lever is provided with a bearing arranged to strike against the end of the piston-rod to force the piston rearward. The piston-rod is thrown forward and normally held in forward position by a coiled spring 45.

In operation the lever 44 will be caused to force the piston rearward once in every revolution of the shaft, forcing the oil and water admitted to the pump-cylinder through the inlet-ports 26 and 27 out through the discharge-port 28 and into the chamber of the vaporizer and igniter 21 and through the outlet in the plug 32 intothe engine-cylinder. In starting the engine the initial explosion may be eifected by any convenient means, as by heating the cylinder-head by means of a torch or other convenient means. The effect of the initial explosion will be to not only start the engine into operation, but to also force a portion of the explosive mixture through the spiral passages 41 into the annular'recess or flame-chamber 40 and to compress it in this chamber, where it will burn slowly by reason of the restricted outlet afforded by the passages 41. By reason of the fact that air under pressure is admitted to the cylinder, as above described, before the exhaust-port is opened oxygen sufficient to sustain this slow combustion of the explosive mixture compressed within the flame-chamber is supplied before the flame is extinguished, as it might otherwise be for lack of oxygen. As the piston moves rearward the fresh air with which the cylinder has become filled is compressed within the cylinder and while supplying oxygen to the flame by its pressure upon the unburned mixture still remaining within the flame-chamber tends to make this burn slowly. The flame from the flame chamber passes into the cylinder through the spiral passages 41, and as these surround the outlet of the vaporizer the stream or spray of oil and water forced through the outlet will be acted on directly by this flame, the flame forming a ring or cone about the jet of oil and water. The spiral form of the passages 41 will tend to give this ring or cone of flame a rotary movement about the jet of oil and wateras a center, and will vaporize the oil and convert the water into steam and instantly subsequently decompose the steam into hydrogen and oxygen. The rotary or whirling motion of the flame probably tends to mix the gases formed from the oil and water with the compressed air within the cylinder more quickly and thoroughly than would otherwise be done, and the result is the formation within the cylinder of an explosive mixture which is readily ignited on the completion of the rearward stroke of the piston by the flame from the flame-chamber. The hydrogen formed by the decomposition of the steam by combining with the carbon of the oil efiects a more complete combustion than would otherwise be efiected, thus preventing the excessive deposition of carbon within the cylinder which is usually characteristic of explosive-engines in which heavy hydrocarbon oils are used.

By the introduction into the cylinder of compressed air, as above described; before the exhaust-port is opened and the subsequent opening of the exhaust-port while the pressure of compressed air is maintained whatever unburned carbon may remain in the cylinder after the explosion takes place is completely swept out, with the result that the cylinder is found practically free from deposits of carbon, even after long-continued operation, even when crude asphalt-oil is used.

While it is to be understood that it is impossible to state from actual observation precisely in what manner or to what extent the oil and water are converted into gases after their introduction into the cylinder, as this operation takes place within a closed cylinder, I believe that this takes place in the manner and to the extent above set forth. Certainly in the operation of the engine of my invention oil and water are introduced as above described, the explosion takes place as described, and the exhaust is a dry smoke free from any indication of moisture.

The engine of my invention may be run successfully with any of the heavier hydrocarbons. Crude asphalt-oil or crude paraffin-oil may be used with practically the same results as with kerosene. The water which enters the pump-cylinder being drawn from the waterjacket which surrounds the cylinder is comparatively hot, and by reason of this fact mixes readily with even comparatively thick crude oil, forming practically an emulsion, which flows readily through the chamber of the vaporizer and through its small dischargeorifice without clogging, the water present in the mixture preventing any deposition of carbon in this orifice.

It will be understood that I do not claim in this application the method of forming the explosive mixture and igniting the same described herein, such method forming the subject-matter of an application filed by me November 11, 1901, Serial No. 81,902.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- V 1. In an explosive-engine, the combination of a working cylinder and piston, and means for-maintaining a flame within thecylinder, means for forcing into said cylindera stream or spray of oil, and means for converting the stream or spray of oil into gas within the cylinder by the direct action of said flame thereon; substantially as described.

2. .In an explosive-engine the combination of a working cylinder and piston and means for maintaining a flame within the cylinder,

means for forcing into said cylinder a stream or spray of oil and water and means for con verting the stream'or spray of oil and water intogases within the cylinder by the direct action of said flame thereon; substantially as described.

3. In an explosive-engine the combination of a working cylinderand piston and means for-maintaining a flame within the cylinder and means for admitting air into said cylinder, means for compressing air within the cylinder,means for forcing a stream or spray of oil and water into said cylinder and means'for converting the stream or spray of oil and water into gases within the cylinder by the direct action-0f said flame thereon and for mixing the gases with the air compressed Within the cylinder to form an explosive mixture; substantially as described.

4. In an explosive-engine the combination of-a working cylinder and piston and means wforadmitting air into saidcylinder, means for maintaining a flame within the cylinder, means for compressing the air within the cylinder, means for forcing a stream or spray of oil and waterinto said cylinder, means-for of a working cylinder and piston and means for admitting air into said cylinder, means for maintaining a flame within the cylinder, means for compressing the air within the cylinder, means for forcing a stream or spray of oil into said cylinder,means for converting the stream or spray of oil into gas within the cylinder, by the direct action of said flame thereon,

and for mixing the gas with the air compressed within the cylinder to form an explosive mixture, and means for igniting the mixture;

- substantially as described.

6. In an explosive-engine the combination of a working cylinder and piston, means for maintaining a flame within the cylinder, an oil-supply and a water-supply and means for mixing the oil and water and for forcing the oil and water in a stream or spray into the cylinder and means for converting the stream or spray of oil and water into gases within the cylinder by the direct action of said flame thereon; substantially as described.

7. In an explosive-engine the combination of a working cylinder and piston and means for maintaining a flame within the cylinder, an oil-supply and a Water-supply, means for heating the water-supply and means for mixing the oil and water and for forcing the oil and water ina stream or spray into the cyl= inder and means for converting the stream or spray of oil and water into gases within the cylinder by the direct action of said flame thereon; substantially as described.

8. In an explosive-engine the combination of a working cylinder and piston and means for maintaining a flame within the cylinder, means for admitting air into said cylinder, means for compressing air within the cylinder,.an oil-supply and a water-supply, means for mixing the oil and water and for forcing the oil and water in a stream or spray into the cylinder and means for converting the stream or spray of oil and water into gases within the cylinder by the direct action of said flame thereon, and for mixing the gases with air compressed within the cylinder to form an explosive mixture; substantially as described.

9. Inan explosive-engine the combination of a working cylinder and piston and means for maintaining a flame within the cylinder, means for admitting air into said cylinder, means for compressingthe air within the cylinder, an oil-supply and a water-supply, means for mixing the oil and waterand for forcingthe oil and water in a stream or spray into the cylinder, means for converting the stream or spray of oil and water into gases within the cylinder by the direct action of said flame thereon and for mixing the gases with the air compressed Within the cylinder to form an explosive mixture, and means forigniting the mixture; substantially as described.

10. In an explosive-engine the combination of a working cylinder and piston and means for maintaining a flame within the cylinder, means for admitting air into said cylinder, means for compressing air within the cylinder, an oil-supply and a water-supply, means for heating the water-supply, means for mixing the oil and water, and for forcing the oil and water in a stream or spray into the cylinder, means for converting the stream or spray of oil and water into gases within the cylinder by the direct action of said flame thereon, and for mixing the gases with the air compressed within the cylinder to form an explosive mixture and means for igniting the mixture, substantially as described.

11. In an explosive-engine the combination of a working cylinder and piston, an igniter having a flame-chamber communicating'with the cylinder, means for forcing oil into the cylinder in a stream or spray in position to be acted on by the flame from the flame-chamber, means for compressing air, an exhaustport arranged to be opened by the piston, means for admitting the compressed air into the cylinder before the exhaust-port is opened substantially as described.

12. In an explosive-engine the combination of a working cylinder and piston, an igniter having a flame-chamber communicating with the cylinder, means for forcing oil and Water into the cylinder in a stream or spray in position to be acted on by the fiame from the flame-chamber, means for compressing air, an exhaust-port arranged to be opened by the piston, means for admitting the compressed air into the cylinder before the exhaust-port is opened; substantially as described.

13. In an explosive-engine the combination of a working cylinder and piston, an igniter having an annular flame-chamber surrounding a tubular chamber and communicating with the cylinder, means for forcing oil through the tubular chamber into the cylinder in a stream or spray in position to be acted on by the flame from the flamechamber, means for compressing air, an exhaustport arranged to be opened by the piston and means for admitting the compressed air into the cylinderbefore the exhaustrport is opened; substantially as described.

14. In an explosive-engine the combination of a working cylinder and piston, an igniter having an annular flame-chamber surrounding a tubular chamber and communicating with the cylinder, means for forcing oil and water through the tubular chamber into the cylinder in a stream or spray in position to be acted on by the flame from the flame-chamber, means for compressing air, an exhaustport arranged to be opened by the piston and means for admitting the compressed air into the cylinder before the exhaust-port is opened; substantially as described.

15. In an explosive-engine,the combination of a working cylinder and piston, an air-compression chamber, an inlet-port in the cylin der, a passage leading from the compressionchamber to the inlet-port, and an exhaustport leading from the cylinder, the inlet and In testimony whereof I affix my signature Witnesses:

FRANK D. BLAOKISTONE, A. P. GREELEY. 

